Dodger

[gary]

Would like to have a dodger on my Hunter 22 as it would increase the "livability" of the boat. Have been thinking of making a "hard" dodger, and was wondering if any of you have such an animal aboard. If so -- how do you like/dislike it?
thanx
garyg

 

[Ed Schenck]

Personally have never seen one on an H22 and wonder about the need. I have one on my H37C which lives in a locker 99% of the time. But in "Boat Info" there are two photos out of 54 that do have dodgers( http://hunter.sailboatowners.com/in...act=photos&cid=10903&Itemid=9999&brand=Hunter). So it is obviously possible. I will admit they are nice for keeping rain out of the companionway. But I dislike that they reduce visibility so much.

 

[Johnb]

Dodgers seem to be very popular on San Francisco Bay, mostly for social and family sailors, the racers don't have them. They are a big asset, especially in the summer time when the spray is flying and it makes the difference between shorts and a tee shirt and dressing up in foulies. Even when at the helm I find it nice to stand next to the wheel on the lee side and get protection from the wind.

My dodger is well past it's use by date and if I get another canvas one I am going to ensure it has a frame strong enough to do pull ups on and grab rails along the sides and back. Climbing around it to go forward is awkward.

It's tempting to believe you can build a hard dodger but it's still not going to be cheap and sometimes the home made ones look terrible.

 

[gary]

I agree about the dangers in style with a "homemade" dodger. I have been following the two 16 year old girls who are sailing around the world. The Aussie's boat has a "hard dodger" and that is what got me to thinking. I sail mostly on Passamaquoddy Bay up here in Maine (the Bay is an off shoot of The Bay of Fundy), big tides, big weather,fog and frequently cold. A dodger makes sense in these kind of conditions.
garyg